Análise da espessura da dentina radicular de molares inferiores após o preparo dos canais com sistema ProTaper Gold, Pro Taper Ultimate e VDW ROTATE

Abstract

Preserving pericervical dentin while achieving effective canal shaping remains a key objective in endodontic instrumentation. This study evaluated dentin thickness in mandibular molars following preparation of mesial canals using three rotary systems—ProTaper Gold, ProTaper Ultimate, and VDW ROTATE—by means of micro–computed tomography (micro-CT). Ninety-six mandibular molars with curved mesial canals were screened, and thirty-six were selected and anatomically matched according to canal area, volume, and curvature, forming three groups (n = 12). All specimens were scanned before and after instrumentation. Dentin thickness was assessed from the furcation (0 mm) to 3 mm apically by superimposing pre- and post-operative transverse sections and measuring the minimum dentin thickness in mesial and distal directions of the mesiobuccal (MB) and mesiolingual (ML) canals. Measurements were taken at 0, 1, 2, and 3 mm and repeated three times. Data normality was tested using Shapiro–Wilk, and comparisons were conducted using Kruskal–Wallis or one-way ANOVA (α = 0.05). All systems produced dentin thinning after instrumentation, with no significant differences among groups across most levels. A single exception was observed in the distal aspect of the ML canal at 1 mm below the furcation, where ProTaper Gold removed more dentin (36.8%) than ProTaper Ultimate (19.7%). Despite this localized difference, the systems exhibited generally similar performance regarding dentin preservation within the pericervical region.